Lenton Priory
Encyclopedia
Lenton Priory was a Cluniac house founded by William Peverel
in the early 12th century. The exact date of foundation is unknown but 1102 is frequently quoted.
and its dedication was to the Holy Trinity. One early gift was from Philip Marc
, King John's sheriff in Nottingham to look after his body and soul in the 13th century.
The Priory continued its work for 430 years, there being twenty to thirty monks in residence at a time and it is estimated that about one thousand men passed through the Priory in four centuries. It was the tenth richest Priory in England and the wealthiest in the Midlands. Its endowments included the three churches in Nottingham, St. Mary's
, St. Peter's
and St. Nicholas
.
The Valor Ecclesiasticus
of 1534 gives the gross income as £387 10s. 10½d (£ as of ),
Prior Heath was thrown into prison in February 1538. In March the prior with eight of his monks and four labourers of Lenton
were indicted for treason and executed.
. It would begin on 11 November and run for eight days. (For some seventy years in the 13th century the fair's duration was extended to twelve days).
While Lenton's fair was on, no market could be held in Nottingham
and such was its size that many of Nottingham's shopkeepers and traders came to the Fair in order to stock up their own shelves.
The Fair continued after the demise of the Priory, though its length was gradually reduced. Its emphasis slowly changed, and in 1584 it was described as a horse-fair when servants of Mary, Queen of Scots attended. By the 17th century the Fair had acquired a reputation as a great fair for all sorts of horses. In the 19th century it was largely frequented by farmers and horse dealers. The Fair finally ceased at the beginning of the 20th century.
in 1802 and he built a large house called "The Priory". William was interested in antiquities and he is known to have removed old architectural materials whilst his house was being constructed. The funds for the house may well have come from the buildings that he and his father built in the Nottingham area. When William died he left the house to his son Sempronius. Colonel Sempronius Stretton
died in 1842 and left the house to his brother Severus William Lynam Stretton
. Neither of the sons regarded the Priory as home and Severus sold the house and it was bought by the Sisters of Nazareth in 1880. The Sisters of Nazareth sold up in the early years of the twenty-first century, and the site was re-developed for housing.
William Peverel
William Peverell , was a Norman knight, and is shown in 'The Battle Abbey Roll' to have fought at the Battle of Hastings.-Biography:...
in the early 12th century. The exact date of foundation is unknown but 1102 is frequently quoted.
Cluniac Priory
It was sited 1½ miles south-west of NottinghamNottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and its dedication was to the Holy Trinity. One early gift was from Philip Marc
Philip Marc
Philip Marc was a High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests in 1208. Marc has been proposed as a candidate for the role of Sheriff of Nottingham in the legend ofRobin Hood.-Biography:...
, King John's sheriff in Nottingham to look after his body and soul in the 13th century.
The Priory continued its work for 430 years, there being twenty to thirty monks in residence at a time and it is estimated that about one thousand men passed through the Priory in four centuries. It was the tenth richest Priory in England and the wealthiest in the Midlands. Its endowments included the three churches in Nottingham, St. Mary's
St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest religious foundation in the City of Nottingham, England, the largest church after the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the largest mediæval building in Nottingham....
, St. Peter's
St. Peter's Church, Nottingham
St Peter's Church, Nottingham is an Anglican parish church in the city of Nottingham.The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest....
and St. Nicholas
St. Nicholas' Church, Nottingham
St. Nicholas Church is an Anglican parish church in Nottingham.The church, since 1953, is Grade II* listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest.-History:...
.
The Valor Ecclesiasticus
Valor Ecclesiasticus
The Valor Ecclesiasticus was a survey of the finances of the church in England, Wales and English controlled parts of Ireland made in 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII....
of 1534 gives the gross income as £387 10s. 10½d (£ as of ),
Prior Heath was thrown into prison in February 1538. In March the prior with eight of his monks and four labourers of Lenton
Lenton, Nottingham
Lenton is an area of the City of Nottingham in the county of Nottinghamshire, England. Politically, it falls within the Nottingham South constituency. Most of the area lies within the electoral ward of "Dunkirk and Lenton", however the "Lenton Triangle" area, considered by most residents to be part...
were indicted for treason and executed.
Priors of Lenton
- Humphrey, temp. Henry IHenry I of EnglandHenry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
- Philip
- Alexander, occurs c. 1189
- Peter, occurs 1200-1214
- Damascenus
- Roger, 1230
- Roger de Normanton, occurs 1241
- Hugh Bluet, occurs 1251
- Roger Norman, 1259
- Matthew, 1269
- Peter de Siriniaco, occurs 1281-1287
- Reginald de Jora, occurs 1289-1290
- William, occurs 1291 and 1306
- Stephen de Moerges, 1309
- Reginald de Crespy, 1313
- Geoffrey, 1316
- William de Pinnebury, occurs 1324
- Guy de Arlato, occurs 1333
- Astorgius de Gorciis, occurs 1336-7
- Peter de Abbeville, occurs 1355
- Geoffrey de Rochero, occurs 1389
- Richard Stafford, died 1414
- Thomas ElmhamThomas Elmham-Life:He was probably born at North Elmham in Norfolk. He may have been the Thomas Elmham who was a scholar at King's Hall, Cambridge from 1389 to 1394...
, 1414 - John Elmham 1426
- John Mydylburgh, 1450
- Thomas Wollore, 1458
- Richard Dene, 1481
- John Ilkeston, occurs 1500-1505
- Thomas Gwyllam, occurs 1512-1516
- Thomas Nottingham alias Hobson, 1525
- John Annesley, 1531
- Nicholas Heath, 1535
Lenton Fair
In 1164 the Priory received a charter to hold a fair, and this was the main fair for Nottingham people for trade, larger even than the Nottingham Goose FairNottingham Goose Fair
The Nottingham Goose Fair is an annual fun fair held in Nottingham, England, during the first week of October. It is largely provided by travelling fair people...
. It would begin on 11 November and run for eight days. (For some seventy years in the 13th century the fair's duration was extended to twelve days).
While Lenton's fair was on, no market could be held in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and such was its size that many of Nottingham's shopkeepers and traders came to the Fair in order to stock up their own shelves.
The Fair continued after the demise of the Priory, though its length was gradually reduced. Its emphasis slowly changed, and in 1584 it was described as a horse-fair when servants of Mary, Queen of Scots attended. By the 17th century the Fair had acquired a reputation as a great fair for all sorts of horses. In the 19th century it was largely frequented by farmers and horse dealers. The Fair finally ceased at the beginning of the 20th century.
More recently
The area was bought by William StrettonWilliam Stretton
William Stretton was a builder and architect based in Nottingham.-Family:He was the eldest child of Samuel Stretton and was baptised at Lenton on April 20, 1755....
in 1802 and he built a large house called "The Priory". William was interested in antiquities and he is known to have removed old architectural materials whilst his house was being constructed. The funds for the house may well have come from the buildings that he and his father built in the Nottingham area. When William died he left the house to his son Sempronius. Colonel Sempronius Stretton
Sempronius Stretton
Colonel Sempronius Stretton CB was a officer in the British Army who served in numerous campaigns including the Battle of Waterloo. He is also known for his sketches that recorded early Canadian life.-Early life:...
died in 1842 and left the house to his brother Severus William Lynam Stretton
Severus William Lynam Stretton
Lieutenant-Colonel Severus William Lynam Stretton was a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. -Family:...
. Neither of the sons regarded the Priory as home and Severus sold the house and it was bought by the Sisters of Nazareth in 1880. The Sisters of Nazareth sold up in the early years of the twenty-first century, and the site was re-developed for housing.
Remains of Lenton Priory today
- Priory Church of St. Anthony, LentonPriory Church of St. Anthony, LentonThe Priory Church of St. Anthony, Lenton is a parish church in the Church of England in Lenton, Nottingham.-History:The church is medieval but largely a building of 1883...
(founded about 1170 as the chapel of St Anthony's hospital which stood in the courtyard of the priory) - Fragment of stone column where Old Church Street meets Priory Street
- The 12th-century fontBaptismal fontA baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
survives in Holy Trinity Church, LentonHoly Trinity Church, LentonHoly Trinity Church, Lenton is a parish church in the Church of England.The church is Grade II* listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest.-History:...
. - Floor tiles in Nottingham CastleNottingham CastleNottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
Museum. - Stained glass in NuthallNuthallNuthall is a village located in Nottinghamshire, England, neighbouring Kimberley, Watnall, Cinderhill and Basford.It is part of the Borough of Broxtowe....
Church.